Happy New Year!

Dear Friends, Fellow Golf Nerds, Golf Course Aficionados, Architects, Superintendents,  Professionals, Golf Nerds, Die Hards, ...etc 

I just wanted to take a minute to wish all of you a Happy New Year!

 Snowy Bunkers at Aronimink

From restoring the work of Ross and MacDonald at Aronimink and The Creek with Hanse Golf Design, to helping create The Cradle, Pinehurst’s new Par-3 Course, 2017 was another fun and busy year! Between all that I became a member of a golf club for the first time in my life, kept up my average of visiting 50 different golf courses this year, wrote an article about "Chunking", and made some more progress at The Village Club of Sands Point.

2018 is shaping up to be another awesome year! The first big project of the year will be back in Pinehurst working on Course No 4, so if you need an escape from the cold, come on down! I am really looking forward to watching the pros negotiate the bunkers at Ridgewood and Aronimink this fall for the FedEx Cup so if you are in NJ or Philly for either tournament please get in touch. Fingers are crossed for some new and interesting projects not too far from home as well. So if you find yourself in the area, drop me a line and bring your clubs! 

I have included a few images of highlights from 2017 as a small token of my appreciation for helping me chase the dream for another year.

Thanks again, and may everyone have a great golfing 2018!

Jaeger Kovich

Proudest Moment of the Year:

Joining one of my favorite golf courses in the world

(anyone interested in a trip to the Chop Hills this year?!)

Most Memorable Round of the Year

Opening day at Streamsong Black with The Cavemen 

Favorite Restored Feature of the Year

The Creek Club's Leven Mound

Hidden Gem(s) of the Year:

Berkleigh Golf Club, Kutztown, PA by Robert White and 

Lakewood Country Club, Lakewood, NJ by Walter J Travis

Coolest GCA Artifact of the Year:

Donald Ross Horseshoe found in the dirt at Aronimink

Most "Can't Wait" for next Year:

BMW Championship at Aronimink Golf Club

New Article: A Guide to Chunking, Golf Course Architecture magazine

Check out Jaeger's new article in Golf Course Architecture magazine's latest issue. A behind the scenes look at building natural looking hazards.

Pictured above is of some of Proper Golf's shaping work for 

Hanse Golf Design on the soon to open Streamsong Resort Black Course, in Florida

Full Issue http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/issue-48-of-golf-course-architecture-is-out-now

Direct link - http://digital.tudor-rose.co.uk/golf-course-architecture/issue48/#34

... Keep an eye out for more exciting news to come, and more pictures from the completed restoration of Aronimink Golf Club.

On the Drawing Table: Master Plan for The Village Club of Sands Point

As consulting architect for The Village Club of Sands Point, Jaeger Kovich of Proper Golf is now working with the club on a Master Plan to reconnect the golf course to the historic property and the long term improvement of the golf course. The golf course sits on the former estate of Isaac Guggenheim. The beautiful Long Island property sits high above the Hempstead Harbor where Isaac built a mansion called Villa Carola, that looks down on the water on one side, and out to the New York City skyline on the other. On the estate he also built a private 9-hole golf course with its own clubhouse, stables, and incredible gate house. 

Since it's gold coast days, the property transformed into IBM Country Club, and was then purchased by The Village of Sands Point in 90's. The Village Club of Sands Point, as it is known today is home to an 18-hole course designed by Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design. 

Over the years, serving so many different roles, and functions, the goal of Proper Golf's Master Plan for The Village Club of Sands Point is to improve the golf course by uncovering the dramatic and historic property. Exposing views into the New York City Skyline, The Mansion, and The Hempstead Harbor are just the jumping off point. There are elements restoration, as well as a few brand new holes, and other features that will help the golf course interact more with the most interesting parts of the property. 

Back in the Press: Jaeger Kovich interviewed by BuffaloGolfer

Jaeger Kovich shaping at Ridgewood Country Club

Jaeger Kovich of Proper Golf is back in the press, this time interviewed by BuffaloGolfer. Picking up from last months GolfClubAtlas Feature Interview with Ran Morrissett, this interview touches on a few other subjects ranging from my first golf memories, to one of my least favorite questions: If you could only play one course for the rest of your life, which course would you choose?

http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/2016-interview-series-architect-and-builder-jaeger-kovich/

You can also find Ron M's introduction and link to the interview on golfclubatlas here:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,62689.0.html

Back to Black.... Streamsong

Streamsong Black is currently under construction

Jaeger Kovich (Proper Golf) is back in Florida working with Hanse Golf Design and The Cavemen on the 3rd course at The Streamsong Resort, in Polk County, Florida. The Black Course, will join two of the best modern courses in the world (Red and Blue). The new course is starting to look pretty cool!


(Check out the nice feature on Golf Channel's Morning Drive)
http://www.golfchannel.com/media/course-routing-released-streamsong-black/

http://www.streamsongresort.com/

Golf Club Atlas Feature Interview with Jaeger Kovich

Golf Club Atlas' February Feature Interview with Jaeger Kovich has been posted!

Ran Morrissett's Introduction:
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,62522.msg1487900.html#new

The Full Interview:
http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview-with-jaeger-kovich/

Ran and Jaeger cover a variety of topics ranging from A.W. Tillinghast, to his first solo project at The Village Club of Sands Point, a comparison between architectural icons Gil Hanse and Tom Doak, going inside the mind of a shaper, the future generation of golf course architects, and more.

For those who are not familiar with www.golfclubtlas.com it is the website of golf course aficionados Ran Morrissett, Ben Cowan-Dewar, and Joe Andriole. I have been a longtime poster on the discussion board and am truly honored to have my interview listed along side names like Tom Doak, Gil Hanse, Jack Nicklaus, Mike Keiser and many more. http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/

Stay tuned for another interview coming at The Buffalo Golfer in March!

Streamsong Black Golf Course

(photo from http://www.golf.com/courses-and-travel/gil-hanse-design-third-streamsong-course)

As winter has finally come to the North East, Jaeger Kovich (Proper Golf) is back working with Hanse Golf Design and The Cavemen on the 3rd course at The Streamsong Resort, in Polk County, Florida. The Black Course, which will join two of the best modern courses in world (Red and Blue), is under construction and looking good!


http://www.streamsongresort.com/

Happy New Year To All My Golf Course Loving Friends!

Dear Friends, Fellow Golf Course Aficionados, Professionals, Golf Nerds, Die Hards, ...etc 

I just wanted to take a minute to wish all of you a Happy New Year!

The Village Club of Sands Point #13

2015 was a great step forward for Proper Golf. It was another year filled with fun and exciting projects, including my first solo project! The year started out by presenting plans to The Village Club of Sands Point, where we are now almost done rebuilding all of the bunkers! The year also included helping build a brand new golf course in The Deep South, and restoring one of the games historic courses back home in the Met Area, with Hanse Golf Design. 

2016 should have some more interesting projects in store. There are some plans in the works for another potential Proper Golf renovation, fingers crossed. We also have a few more holes at The Village Club to work on where we may be making some substantial improvements. In the mean time keep an eye out for the February Feature Interview on www.golfclubatlas.com! 

I have included a few of my favorite photos from projects I worked on this year as a small token of my appreciation for helping me chase the dream for another year.

Thanks again, and may everyone have a great golfing 2016!

Jaeger Kovich

Ridgewood Country Club #4 West 

Mossy Oak Golf Club, Mississippi

-- 

Jaeger Kovich
jkovich34@gmail.com

www.propergolf.net
(917)359-4522

Ridgewood Country Club Restoration Now Online @ www.propergolf.net

(Before/After of #4 West at Ridgewood Country Club)

http://propergolf.net/ridgewood.html

Pictures of the restoration at Ridgewood Country Club are finally up on the website. With some amazing weather we were able to restore all 27 holes back to the way the Tillinghast course played during the 1935 Ryder Cup.

One of the best 27 hole layouts in the world, the club will be hosting a USGA event this summer, along with The Barclays again in a few years, and hopefully some more big tournaments down the road.

Bunker reshaping at The Village Club of Sands Point is complete!

The reshaping at The Village Club of Sands Point is complete for 2015! What an awesome early birthday present it was to complete my first solo project as both architect and shaper, finishing the day before I turned 29! 

We still have to do something with holes #3, 4, and 5, but have left those for another time as we hopefully will be making some even bigger changes to these

Many thanks to all those who helped! 

#6

#9

#10

#13

#13 

#14

Vineyard Golf Club named Best New Private Course 2015 by Golf Magazine

 http://www.vineyardgolf.com/upload/57yZvtc-dHQSr.pdf

New: Ridgewood Country Club Bunker Restoration

Back in the Met Area for the rest of the year, Jaeger Kovich (Proper Golf) is working with Hanse Golf Design again, restoring Ridgewood Country Club's bunkers to their 1935 Ryder Cup fame... We even started on Monday July, 13, the day A.W. Tillinghast was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame! 

The Bible aka The Phone Book!

#6 East 

# 3 Green and #7 Fairway on the east course. 

Update - The Village Club of Sands Point

Bunker reshaping continues! Holes #1, 10 and 11 are now shaped and ready for Billy Bunker, Grass and Sand.

#1 Green

#10 Fairway

#11 Green

#12 Tee at sunrise

#13 Green at sunrise

Proper Golf Breaks Ground at The Village Club

Jaeger Kovich and Proper Golf are very excited, as the bunker renovation is now underway! The first project as both architect and shaper, Jaeger is hoping to make significant improvements with both the playability and aesthetics of the bunkers. Long neglected, Jaeger is working with superintendent Mike Benz, to do the work mostly in house, and deliver a set of hazards the members will be proud of. 

New #13 Greenside bunker

The new approach to #13

The new smaller and deeper bunker on #16

If you are in the area, come check us out! - Jaeger

Heading South

If you find yourself in The Deep South, come see the new course for Mossy Oak, under construction in Mississippi. Shaping for Hanse Golf Design, the course will draw inspiration from Shinnecock Hills and Alister MacKenzie's Palmetto Golf Club, another Southern Jewel.

http://golfweek.com/news/2015/feb/24/gil-hanse-golf-course-architect-mossy-oak-miss/

Vineyard Golf Club Pictures and Project Page Now Online

http://www.propergolf.net/vineyard.html

Pictures of the renovation at Vineyard Golf Club are finally up on the website. With Massachusetts finally thawing out from a long winter, we are looking forward to getting back to the Vineyard sometime in April for a few small projects before they open for the season.

... The Village Club of Sands Point project has also been added to the website under design.

http://www.propergolf.net/sands_point.html

Proper Golf Presents Plans to Renovate Doak Course

Sat, Feb 7th - Jaeger Kovich recently completed a feasibility study and presented conceptual plans to reroute the golf course at The Village Club of Sands Point. The early Tom Doak course has been considering moving their clubhouse to be integrated with the Guggenheim Mansion, "Villa Carola". The new Proper Golf plans call for a new opening hole playing into the NYC Skyline, a dramatic downhill par-3, and a new finishing hole, as well as a new driving range. A community putting course has also been mentioned as a possibility.

Villa Carola - Once home to Isaac and Solomon Guggenheim 

New Mid Pines Photos!

New Mid Pines photos have now been added to the Mid Pines gallery (http://propergolf.net/mid_pines.html), courtesy of Kyle Franz. All accounts are that the "phase 2" greens expansion and re-grassing program was incredibly successful. Rumor has it, Pine Needles is up next..

Mid Pines #7

 Mid Pines #12

Mid Pines #12 

 Mid Pines #13

Mid Pines #16 and #7

NEW Proper Golf consulting at a Tom Doak golf course in New York

The Mansion

Proper Golf has been hired as consulting architect to The Village Club of Sands Point in New York. Jaeger Kovich will be doing a feasibility study on rerouting the Tom Doak golf course to play out of The Guggenheim Estate aka "The Mansion", and the possibility of adding a par-3 course along The Hempstead Bay.

New Project -Vineyard Golf Club w Gil Hanse

#10

Under Construction: Vineyard Golf Club, Martha's Vineyard, Mass

Proper Golf is happy to announce that construction at The Vineyard Club, on Martha's Vineyard, MA has commenced. Working with Hanse Golf Design and Caveman Construction for the first time, Jaeger Kovich will be playing a significant shaping and management role as the back nine construction began in early August. Having gained some new property the club decided to undergo a complete remodel a few years ago. The project entails rerouting, and rebuilding of all greens, tees, bunkers and a complete change of style, with large areas of exposed sand and native grasses. The front nine reopened to rave reviews in 2013.

Read more about the project here:
http://www.vineyardgolf.com/about-vineyard